Controlling means for adjustable back chairs



June 15, 1948. o. A. REINHOLD CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIRS '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1946 awa -a2?? 49a! ad Mum-J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0. A. REINHOLD CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIRS June 1 5, 1948.

Filed Aug. 28, 1946 64m j}; i J

Patented June l5, 1948' CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIRS Oscar A. Reinhold, Floumoor, Ill.

This invention relates to iurniture and is particularly directedto chairs having reclining backs.

In the normal use of a reclining chair, it is desirableto have a soit, gradual moving action when the weight of the user is applied rearwardly against the back of the chair. It is also highly desirable than when the weight of the user is released, that the back of the chair will return in the same easy and gradual manner. It is also desirable for the user .to have an easily operated mechanism for adjusting the chair back in various reclining positions.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair of simple and. economical construction containing means to achieve an easy positioning action of the chair back, in accordance with the pressure applied or released by the user.

Another object of this'invention is to provide a reclining chair in which the user can rigidly sired positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism for the movable chair back that can be operated by the user with a minimum of efiort. f 'A further object of this invention is to provide a remotely controlled positive latching and de-latching mechanism for a reclining chair.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sturdy operating and latching mechanism which will outlast. the normal usage of any chair. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:. 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevational'view of the reclin ing chair with the upholstery removed to more clearly show the operating mechanism. This figure also shows the chair back in phantom lines in two of its reclining positions. L

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view looking at the operating mechanism from the inside of the chair;

Fig; 3 is an enlarged detail illustrating the slidable operating spline for the. locking shotbolt;

'Fig.'4'is a sectional view taken on lines 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken genshows the pivotal axle of the'movable back.

Fig. '6 isa'detailed sectional .view or the opposite a'xl'io'r the movable back;

Application August as, 1946, Serial No. mm 3Claima. (01. 155-183) 2 Y Fig. "I is a fragmentary internal view looking at the remote control trigger operating mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, of the two sheets of drawings, the reclining chair indicated in general by the reference numeral l0, consists of the standard wooden frame construction. The chair has two normal arm rests l2, upright supporting members l4, bottom horizontal frame members l6, and two intermediate horizontal seat supporting members It.

The intermediate horizontal members it are fastened rigidly to the upright supporting mem bers l4 either by doweiing or with wood screws as generally used in the art of furniture making. The forward ends of the intermediate supporting members It are rigidly secured by wood screws or dowel pins to an upright arm supporting member 20. The two arm assemblies Hare interconnected by cross tie members 24 and 26. The bottom horizontal members i6 have four short legs 28 at each corner thereof.

Pivotally supported between the two upright side frame members I4 is a movable back member 30. This movable-back member 30 has a horizontal cross member 32 which is interconnectedby two downwardly projecting frame members 34. These downwardly projecting frame members 34 are interconnected at its lowermost ends by a cross tie member 36. The movable back member 30 has two rigidly secured axles 38 and 40. These short axles 38 and 40 are riveted at 42 and 44 to two rectangular plates 46 and 48.

The rectangular plate 46 is in turn fastened by machine screws 50 through the downwardly projecting frame member 34 and into the leg portion 52 of the z-shaped member 54. This Z- shaped member 54 is the mechanical means mits its restrictive action to the movable back member 30. Because of the desirability of complate ease of action by the movable back member 30, this snubbing or dash-put control is more fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 648,171,1iled February 16, 1946.

The upright supporting members l4 have bushings 56 and 58 to prevent wear in the wooden upright supporting members 14. The rectangular member 48 is fastened to the downward frame member 34 by ordinary wood screws not shown.

The movable back member 30 is held in horizontal alignment by the retainingrings 60 and 62. The retaining ring 60 is pinned to the axle 38 by pin 64. This prevents any movement to the right, as can readily be seen. The rigid axle on the other side is prevented from movement to the left by a retaining washer i4 and screw 08. Any thrust delivered to the left is taken up by the flanged bushing ll and'anti-friction washer ll. The retaining'ring II on the left side is held between two fixedplates II and 12, which plates act as additional thrust members for the retaining ring I.

The flxed plate members ll and I! act as a housing assembly II for the latching mechanism Ii. The advantage of this two plate housing assembly I4 is to provide a complete unitary mounting for the latching mechanism It. The housing assembly 14 is mounted by wood screws ll to the upright supporting member If and by the wood screw It to the intermediate seat supporting member 18.

Fixed platemember III has a multiplicity of arcuately spaced holes I! through which shotbolt it engages and retains the movable back member 30 in any of the several reclining positions. The shot-bolt 84 has a plurality of annular equally spaced teeth 80. The teeth 86 are constantly in engagement with a long splined member II which is fixedly attached to an actuating rod Ill. When the user of-the reclining chair wishes to change his angle of repose, he merely pushes downwardly on the trigger 82, which causes the actuating rod 80 to rotate in its bearing ll, thereby rotating splined member II which in turn withdraws shot-bolt 84 from the spaced holes 82 against the force of compression spring ll.

The shot-bolt assembly is housed in a pivotal casting Ql. Pivotal casting II is held in horizontal alignment between one arm of the Z-shaped member 54 anda U-shaped member Hill. The reason for the pivotal action of the casting 98 is to keep the splined member ll tangential to the annular spaced teeth 88. No matter what position the actuating rod 80 and splined member 88 assume in relationship to their movement, the trigger I2 is always approximately in the same position for the user's manipulation.

If the user maintains constant pressure downwardly on trigger .2, the movable back member II can be moved forwardly or rearwardly to any desired position. If the user merely presses trigger l2 downwardly for an instant, the movable back member 30 will either move forward or backward to the next spaced hole 82, as the user desires. When shot-bolt 84 is withdrawn from spaced holes 82 and the user releases the trigger instantly, the shot-bolt nose rides on the inner face of fixed plate member Ill under spring pressure ll. Then as the shot-bolt comes in register with the next spaced hole 82, compression spring it forces the shot-bolt it into register with the next spaced hole It.

The forward end of the outer leg I02 on the Z-shaped member 54 has a tensioning member I attached thereto. This tensioning member I04 can be adjusted to a predetermined pull and then permanently locked by nuts I. Look nuts I" bear against a mounting plate 108, said mounting plate I being attached rigidly to the horimntal bottom members ll. The end portion of the outer leg "I! has thereto mounted a bifurcated yoke HI which is one of the mounting ends of the dash-pots 51. The other end of dash-pots II are pivotally mounted to a trunnion I I: fixedly .secured by bolts or other means tothe bottom horizontal member ll.

- It will be understood that there are two sets of Z-shaped members ll, two dash-pot members I1 and tensioning members I located in the two arm assemblies 22, although only one is shown by the illustration in Fig. 1. This is necessary to assure a smooth and balanced operation of movable back member 30. However, it is obvious that only one latching mechanism ii is necessary.

In conclusion, although my invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A chair having in combination, a supporting body structure, a back pivotally attached thereto, said movable back member having a dash-pot and a return tensioning member afflxed thereto, the lower ends of the dash-pot and return tensioning member being secured to the supporting body structure, the supporting body structure having a fluted control member pivoted to the back and engaging the latching means for moving the latter into operative and inoperative position, a fluted pivoted control member for enga ing and disengaging the said latching means, the fluted pivoted control member having an extension arm supported on a bearing support means on said body structure.

2. A chair having in combination, a supporting body structure, a back pivotally attached thereto, said movable back member having a dash-pot and a return tensioning member afllxed thereto. the lower ends of the dash-pot and return tensioning member being secured to the supporting body structure, the supporting body structure having a fluted control member pivoted to the back and engaging the latching means for moving the latter into operative and inoperative position, a fluted pivoted control member for engaging and disengaging the said latching means, said fluted pivoted control member positively engaging a shot-bolt and the pivotal connection of the control member to the back permitting the control member to slide in the plane angular to the horizontal plane of said shotbolt, the shot-bolt passing through an arm member fixedly secured to said pivotal back member, the shot-bolt engaging or disengaging a fixed latching plate mounted no said supporting structure, the fluted pivoted control member having an extension arm pivotally supported on a hearing support means on said body structure.

3. A chair having in combination, a supporting body structure, a back pivotally attached thereto, said movable back member having a dash-pot and a return tensioning member afllxed thereto, the lower ends of the dash-pot and return tensioning member being securedto the supporting body structure, the supporting body structure having a fluted control member pivoted to the back and engaging the latching means for moving the latter into operative and inoperative position, a fluted pivoted control member for engaging and disengaging the said latching means, said fluted pivoted control member positively engaging a shot-bolt and the pivotal connection of the control member to the back permitting the control member to slide in the plane angular to the horizontal plane of said shot-bolt, the shot-bolt passing through an arm member fixedly secured to said pivotal back member, the shotbolt engaging or disengaging a fixed latching plate mounted on said supporting structure, said shot-bolt having a resilient forcing member to urged the shot-bolt into register with said latchin: plate, the fluted control member having an Number extension arm pivotally supported on a bearing 1,320,014 support means on said body structure. 1,677,434 OSCAR A. REDIHOLD. 1,856,534 REFERENCES crmn 5 The following references are of record in the flle of this patent: ig z' UNITED STATES PATENTS 268:840 Number Name Date 426,601 Muhl Apr. 29, 1890 Name Date Lenard Oct. 28, 1919 Dorton July 1'7, 1928 Boery May 3, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1 1911 Germany Jan. 6, 1914 

